definitions

illicit

[ ih-lis-it ]
/ ɪˈlɪs ɪt /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR illicit ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.
disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.

RELATED CONTENT

acornRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Dunking, Sequelae, And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comA popular donut shop changed its name, and the president threw a press conference. How did this affect word searches on Dictionary.com? Dive into the trending words list to find out!
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

wrong, immorality, lawlessness, illegitimacy

Nearby words

illegitimate, illegitimatize, illegitimize, illiberal, illich, illicit, illimani, illimitable, illin', illinium, illinoian

Origin of illicit

From the Latin word illicitus, dating back to 1645–55. See il-2, licit

Related forms

il·lic·it·ly, adverbil·lic·it·ness, noun

Can be confused

elicit illicitillegal illicit (see synonym study at illegal)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for illicitness

illicit

/ (ɪˈlɪsɪt) /

adjective

another word for illegal
not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standardillicit sexual relations

Derived Forms

illicitly, adverbillicitness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012